Method of treating materials incidental to dyeing



Patented' May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN momma, or'wmnmeron, DELAWARE, Assioma To Josnrnmcaorr a sons co.,fo1` nocxronn, wmnmeron, nnnnwaan, a conroiwnon or pgn.

WARE.

METHOD OF TBEATIG MATERIALS INCIDENTAL T VIDYEIN'G.

application mea october a, i926. sei-iai nu.' nach.

This invention is concerned with treatment` of materials incidental to dyeing, and more specifically speaking, with certain chemical reactions subsequent to application of .the dyes whereby the colors are fully developed andset. Y

In dyeing textile materials such as cotton, linen, silk, rayon or fabrics Woven from them, with certain vat dyes, it is the custom to subject the materials, immediately after ap lication of the dyes, iirst to a chemical re ucing agent, and thereafter either'to air or other oxidizing agent for the purposes stated above. The object of my invention is lto enable control of the reaction of such chemical agents upon the dye 'with a view towardpred'etermining more uniform results as to color and set than possible ofattainment with previous methods. This' desideratum I attain as hereinafter fully explained, by subjecting the fresh dyed materials to an atmosphere of a suitable gas capable either of modifying the action of the agents employed in reducing and yoxidizing the 'dye, or of remaining neutral, i. e. non-oxidizing in contradistinction to air.- The illustration herewith shows, more or i less diagrammatically,a longitudinal sectional view of a novel apparatus convenient to the practice of my new method. This apparatus will be observed as having the form of an enclosure l comprising three sequential subdivisions 2, 3, 4, which are set apart by vertical partitions 5, 6. The subdivisions 2 and 4 I employ as vats respectively for solutions of the reducing and oxidizing solutions; while the intermediate subdivision 3 serves as a chamber for a gaseous agentby which the acv tion of the solutions aforesaid is modiied or controlled.A The chamber 3 communicates with the end subdivisions 2 and 4 over the tops of the lpartitions 5, 6; and auxiliarpartitions 7, 8 extending downward from t e roof 9 of the structure into the solutions, cooperate in establishing iiuid seals to prevent esca of the gas from said chamber. Immediate y after ap lication of the dye to the textile ma terial -which may be either continuous yarn or cloth, it is passed. over a guide roller 10 and. down into the reducing solution'in the.

"subdivisioni2, thence about guide rollers 11 and upward attheinside of the auxiliary partion- 7 to squeeze rollers 12 above the partition 5' for direction into the chamber 3. n

traversing the latter, the material traces an undulatory course defined by spaced transverse u per and lower rollers 13, 14. .The materia M leaves the chamber 3 overa guide roll 15 at the top ofthe partition 6, passing downward into the oxidizing solution inthe subdivision. 4, thence about guide rolls 16 be neath the auxiliary partition 8, andfinally upward and out of the apparatus over a uide roll 17. The gas is introduced into the c amber via a pipe 18 at the top, aiseparatel conf trolled branch 19 being alsol provided or injection of steam or water for l the purposes of cleaning. A steam or hot water pipe 20 in the bottom of the chamber 3 serves as a convenient means to heat the gas when necessary or advantageous The apparatus is further equipped with outlet pipes 21, 22, 23 bywhich the respective subdivisions 2, "3, 4 mayV be readily drained from t' e to time.

As a concrete examp e in connection? with I the use of indanthrend x and algol colors, I may emplo a solution of h dro-sulphite and alkali in su division 2, a so ution of a bichromate or peroxide in thesubdivision 4, and ordinary illuminating Consequent upon retainment of the-material as in the chamber 3.

M in the gaseous atmosphere within the chamber 3, for a substantial time period, the reducing solution is given an opportunity to thoroughly react with the dye until the color is fully developed. Such regulation of the reduction is therefor also influential upon the results obtained in the final oxidizing step. By heatin the as to a tem erature of about 140 F., I ave oundthat t e reduction may be greatly facilitated. On theother hand, if found desirable under certain conditions of practice, a neutral gas like nitrofcn or hydrogen may be employed to retar the action of the reducing agent. Again, if more convenient, reduction ma be vee'oted by a reducing gas (such as hy gen-sulphite) alone without necessitating initial passage of the material M lution.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the practiceof my new method o dyeing Vis subject to considerable diversification de in lentirely on the nature ofv tbe-mater1al M treated, is well as u the kind and the specific characteristics o the dyes initially employed. The apparatus herein specically through a reducing agent in se-` los j described is of course to be considered as typical of others capable of being evolved Within the scope of the ap ended claims.

Having thus describe myv invention, I claim:

1. The method' of treating materials incidental to dyeing which consists in subjecting the freshly dyed materials for a time to an atmosphere of non-oxidizing gas capable of controlling or modifying the action upon the dye of a reactive chemical agent previously applied.

2. The method of treating materials incidental to dyeing which consists in subjecting the freshly dyed materials for a time to an atmosphere of heated non-oxidizing gas capable of controlling or modifying reaction upon the dye of a chemical agent previously applied. -f ill 3. The method of treating materials incii'iental to dyeing which consists in subjecting the freshly dyed materials for a time to an atmosphere of non-oxidizing gas capable of controlling or modifying theaction upon the dye of different reactive chemical agents previously applied.

4. The method of treating materials incidental to dyeing which consists in subjecting me freshly dyed materials for a time to an atmosphere of ordinary .illuminating gas to control or modify the reaction upon the dye of a reducing agent previously applied.

5. The method of treating materials incidentalto dyeing which conslsts in subjecting the freshly dyed materials for a time to an atmosphere of heated illuminating gas to control or modify the reaction upon the dye of a reducing agent previously applied.

6. The method of treating materials incidental to dyeing which consists in subjecting the freshly dyed materials for a time to an atmosphere of ordinary illuminating gas to control or modify the reaction upon the dye of reducing and oxidizing agents previously applied.

7. The continuous method of treating textile materials incidental to dyeing which consists in passing the freshly dyed materials through an atmosphere of ordinary illuminating gas immediately after subjection toareducing agent and before subjection to an oxidizing agent for the purpose of controlling or modifying the action of said agents upon the dye.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Wilmington, Delaware, this 29th day of Sept., 1926.

JOHN MACADAM. 

